I have been using auto pay by credit card to pay my Direct TV bill for the last few years. Recently the expiration date of my credit card on file expired, and the automatic phone system notified me. I changed and updated my credit card on file the very next day on their system.
Here's the problem: DirecTV charges your card on the billing date instead of the due date. Since I had updated the info in their system and it was available for them to bill, they did nothing, and on the next month's bill they tacked on a late fee of $4.58. I called and talked to their employee #V1564, and he said there was nothing they could do about it. As I went through the bill, I found one item related to an equipment protection plan, which I did not order, $5.99. It was added in late December 2007 when I inquired about some HD channels (73, 75, 76, 79) that were no longer free with the HD access fee. Can you imagine, they will charge you $10 to remove it when you never ordered it in the first place. I think it is a rip-off, so I am reporting it.
1) Do not think it is a small amount, they have millions of customers.
2) Do not use auto pay, let them get their money on the due date.
3) Ask for a paper statement, let them lick their stamp. (I was using e-statements, and here they ripped me off.)
4) Check for alternate programming. I am exploring the Fios programming from Verizon.
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